Mentally Disabled Man Rescued
A 35-year-old man with mental disability who was found lying on a pavement on Mettupalayam Road, was recently rescued by Udavum Karangal, a home that rehabilitates destitute adults and abandoned children. R.Rajagopal, Governing Body Member of Udavum Karangal, told the Hindu that the man was in a pathetic condition and had sustained severe injuries on his right foot. His foot seemed to have been run over by a vehicle. “The wounds are deep and he has endured severe pain,” Dr.Rajagopal said.The man, identified as Senthil Kumaran, was immediately taken to the care home at Myleripalayam. He was put on psychiatric treatment and would be given constant treatment and counselling until he showed signs of improvement. After a lot of motivation and counselling, Senthil told the volunteers at Udavum Karangal that he was a diploma holder. His parents were no more and his maternal uncle had robbed him of his property. It was learnt that he had suffered severe bouts of depression. “Since he would take a longer time to recover, he will be taken care of at the home,” Dr.Rajagopal said.Senthil told the volunteers at Udavum Karangal that he was a diploma holder
There was a rise in the number of cases such as these because the State did not have adequate infrastructure to treat and rehabilitate the mentally disabled. The only hospital was in Chennai, which could not meet the requirement of the entire State, Dr.Rajagopal said. Each district should have a hospital for the mentally disabled. Udavum Karangal itself was full and could not accommodate more people who needed care and support, he added. The home was also experiencing a shortage of volunteers and staff to take care of the inmates.
